Posted on 07/31/2005 9:22:26 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
London Police Nab 6 More in Blasts Probe
By CATHERINE McALOON, Associated Press Writer 19 minutes ago
Police arrested six people Sunday in the failed July 21 London transit bombings and were reportedly investigating the attackers' ties to Saudi Arabia and Italy, hurrying to track down any accomplices to prevent more attacks.
Key suspects were being interrogated in London in relation to the partially exploded bombs planted on three subway trains and a double-decker bus, police said, while authorities in Italy were pursuing contacts linked to suspected bomber Osman Hussain, arrested in Rome two days ago.
On Sunday, one of Hussain's brothers was arrested in northern Italy, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. He was not accused of terrorism, ANSA said.
Police discovered that Hussain called Saudi Arabia hours before his arrest, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported, and the Sunday Times said another bombing suspect went on a monthlong visit to Saudi Arabia in 2003, telling friends he was to undergo training there.
Police raided two properties in the Sussex region, arresting the six people at one location, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said. The six were being detained under anti-terrorism laws at a police station in Sussex.
The police spokeswoman would not specify the location of the raids or any further detail on those arrested. The four main suspects in the July 21 attacks are already in custody.
As investigators probed links to other attacks, Spain's intelligence chief dismissed the possibility that the London bombings were connected to the train bombings in Madrid last year that killed 191 people.
Alberto Saiz, the director of the National Intelligence Center, told the Madrid daily El Pais in an interview published Sunday that similarities between the attacks were limited to "their outward appearance" and the targeting of transport networks.
"At that point, the differences start," Saiz was quoted as saying. The July 7 group of London bombers was "small — just four people — less visible than the Madrid one."
"Two weeks later, they try a second episode of the same attack — obviously, the perpetrators are not the same," Saiz said.
"In contrast to Madrid, this gives us the feeling that they are coordinated with other groups or have direction from above, and that there is a plan," he added. "This is not an isolated group that decides to act on its own account."
Four arrests were made in dramatic raids Friday in London and Rome, helping to ease the fears of a British capital on edge since four suicide bombers killed 52 victims on three subways and a double-decker bus on July 7. The July 21 bombing attempts rattled Londoners, but took no lives.
Police were searching for those who may have recruited and directed the bombers and built the explosives while also probing for connections between the terror cells, one made up mostly of Britons of Pakistani descent and the other mainly of east African-born Britons.
In Rome, investigators were interrogating Hussain, 27, an Ethiopian-born British citizen suspected of trying to bomb the Shepherd's Bush subway station in west London on July 21.
Hussain was arrested Friday at a Rome apartment reportedly belonging to a brother after police traced calls he made on a relative's cell phone. Britain has requested his extradition for questioning, and an initial hearing was held Saturday.
His attorney, Antonietta Sonnessa, said the extradition process could take two months. She said no formal charges had been filed against Hussain, also known as Hamdi Issac, and said he was likely to fight extradition.
A brother, Fati Issac, was arrested Sunday in the northern Italian town of Brescia on suspicion of destroying documents sought by investigators, ANSA said. He was not accused of terrorism, the report said. Hussain reportedly told investigators the bombers were motivated by anger over the Iraq war.
A legal expert familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press in Rome that Hussain admitted to a role in the attack but said it was only intended to be an attention-grabbing strike.
Hussain told interrogators he was not carrying enough explosives even to "harm people nearby," the expert said, speaking on condition of anonymity because Italian law requires that the ongoing investigation remain secret.
Hussain also said the bombers had been led by a man called "Muktar," the Rome daily La Repubblica reported. "Muktar showed us videos with images of the war in Iraq," Hussain said, according to Italian reports. Suspect Muktar Said Ibrahim, 27, was arrested Friday in London. The Ethiopian-born Briton, also known as Muktar Mohammed Said, is accused of planting explosives on a bus in east London. The Sunday Times said he went to Saudi Arabia in 2003.
A second man arrested in London on Friday, who identified himself as Ramzi Mohammed, is suspected of trying to blow up a train at the Oval Station. Another suspect, Yasin Hassan Omar, 24, a Somali with British residency, was arrested in Birmingham on Wednesday. He is suspected of trying to bomb a subway train near Warren Street station on July 21. ___ Associated Press writer Frances D'Emilio contributed to this report from Rome.
Dang that was fast. I just got an email from a relative who lurks on FR saying that the 7th person was arrested.
Before I could update the count, it is up to 8.
We are still waiting for the announcement of an evil Scot/Irish American being one of the bombers/terrorist/jihadists.
Only one word of advice, gramps.....please promise me you won't hold your breath!!! : )
I promise not to hold my breath.
Good....I wouldn't have wanted to read about your early demise....as I don't think Scandinavians, etc., will be found out as a terrorist participant in your otherwise, hopefully, long life. : )
I recommended the worse part of the Falkland Islands, and Mad Ivan said that there were worst islands.
We decided to drop them from a helicopter about 1/2 mile from the beach and let them swim to meet their Jihadist brothers. There would be no food, clothing, weapons or tools.
Here is a thread with a more reliable source linking these Jihadist Johnny Mohammeds to Saudi land.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453967/posts
Police Investigate Saudi Link To London Attacks
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 7-31-2005 | Andrew Alderson/David Harrison/Bruce Johnston
Posted on 07/30/2005 5:31:52 PM PDT by blam
Police investigate Saudi link to London attacks
By Andrew Alderson, David Harrison and Bruce Johnston in Rome
(Filed: 31/07/2005)
London under attack
Scotland Yard is investigating evidence that the two waves of terrorist attacks on London this month may have been masterminded from Saudi Arabia.
The Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist squad has learnt that Hussain Osman, 27, one of the suspects for the second failed attacks, called a number in Saudi Arabia hours before his arrest in Rome on Friday. He was believed to be making only the most vital calls because he feared his mobile phone was being tracked by investigators.
An Italian police officer holds up photographs of Hussain Osman
In an unconfirmed development, the Saudi Arabian authorities are understood to be investigating the possibility that the attacks were planned by extremists there.
Senior officials at Scotland Yard believe there are no links in Britain between the two cells responsible for the July 7 bombings which killed 56 people and the failed suicide attacks two weeks later. But one senior source said that the anti-terrorist squad is investigating links between the two cells and "foreign camps" of terrorists.
They are also inquiring into claims that, like the July 7 bombers, some of the July 21 attackers travelled extensively abroad shortly before the attacks. Police believe that although the July 21 terrorists expected to die, they made plans in case the bombs failed or their mission was aborted.
One security official said: "Most of the suspects did not use mobile phones registered to them and neither did they use land lines. Therefore they must have had some sort of contingency plan and probably had help from sympathisers. This tells us that they must have had some training, so the question now is by whom and where did they receive that training."
Scotland Yard began proceedings in Rome yesterday to extradite Osman, who is suspected of being the failed Shepherd's Bush suicide bomber of July 21. Italian newspapers, quoting police and security sources, claimed that he at first said that he only carried a backpack on to the Tube but admitted on Friday night that he had been involved in the attacks. But Osman allegedly insisted he had no links to al-Qaeda, the terrorist network led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.
Scotland Yard is sceptical of many of the alleged claims - sometimes confused and contradictory - made by Osman, a British citizen born in Ethiopia. He allegedly said that he had intended to spread fear not to kill members of the public. "We wanted to make an attack but only as a demonstration." One Italian newspaper said that he told investigators: "We were supposed to blow ourselves up."
The father of two from south London, is the first person held under regulations which took effect on Thursday after Italy signed the UK's Extradition Act of 2003. He is believed to be fighting enforced return to Britain.
Twelve men are being questioned in London over their alleged involvement in failed attacks. They include the three suspected of failing to explode bombs at Shepherd's Bush, the Oval and Warren Street Tube stations and a bus in Hackney. Another man is being questioned over an abandoned bomb found in west London last Saturday.
Osman, whose real name is believed to be Hamdi Isaac, and three London suspects were arrested on Friday and a fifth suspect was held on Wednesday in Birmingham.
Osman apparently travelled to Rome five days after the July 21 attacks, when police were on full alert. He was arrested, without resistance, at his brother's home after going to a mosque to pray.
Scotland Yard traced him to Italy because he occasionally used a mobile phone. He is believed to have taken the Eurostar from Waterloo to Paris, then a train through Italy visiting Bologna, Milan and Rome.
Security sources in Italy said he made four calls on Friday: three local calls apparently to relatives and, the most interesting one, to a mobile phone in Saudi Arabia. Scotland Yard is trying to discover who took that call.
Saudi Arabia, which has good relations with the West, has been embarrassed by its links to international terrorism. Not only is it bin Laden's home country but 15 of the September 11 terrorists were from the kingdom.
"Oh, do you imply that these bomber terrorists had direct connection to the Saudis and possible terrorist training camps there? Gosh, who knew? Hard to believe, given that most of the 9/11 terrorists were Saudis (a mere coincidence)."
Police Investigate Saudi Link To London Attacks
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 7-31-2005 | Andrew Alderson/David Harrison/Bruce Johnston
Posted on 07/30/2005 5:31:52 PM PDT by blam
Police investigate Saudi link to London attacks
By Andrew Alderson, David Harrison and Bruce Johnston in Rome
(Filed: 31/07/2005)
London under attack
Scotland Yard is investigating evidence that the two waves of terrorist attacks on London this month may have been masterminded from Saudi Arabia.
The Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist squad has learnt that Hussain Osman, 27, one of the suspects for the second failed attacks, called a number in Saudi Arabia hours before his arrest in Rome on Friday. He was believed to be making only the most vital calls because he feared his mobile phone was being tracked by investigators.
An Italian police officer holds up photographs of Hussain Osman
In an unconfirmed development, the Saudi Arabian authorities are understood to be investigating the possibility that the attacks were planned by extremists there.
Senior officials at Scotland Yard believe there are no links in Britain between the two cells responsible for the July 7 bombings which killed 56 people and the failed suicide attacks two weeks later. But one senior source said that the anti-terrorist squad is investigating links between the two cells and "foreign camps" of terrorists.
They are also inquiring into claims that, like the July 7 bombers, some of the July 21 attackers travelled extensively abroad shortly before the attacks. Police believe that although the July 21 terrorists expected to die, they made plans in case the bombs failed or their mission was aborted.
One security official said: "Most of the suspects did not use mobile phones registered to them and neither did they use land lines. Therefore they must have had some sort of contingency plan and probably had help from sympathisers. This tells us that they must have had some training, so the question now is by whom and where did they receive that training."
Scotland Yard began proceedings in Rome yesterday to extradite Osman, who is suspected of being the failed Shepherd's Bush suicide bomber of July 21. Italian newspapers, quoting police and security sources, claimed that he at first said that he only carried a backpack on to the Tube but admitted on Friday night that he had been involved in the attacks. But Osman allegedly insisted he had no links to al-Qaeda, the terrorist network led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.
Scotland Yard is sceptical of many of the alleged claims - sometimes confused and contradictory - made by Osman, a British citizen born in Ethiopia. He allegedly said that he had intended to spread fear not to kill members of the public. "We wanted to make an attack but only as a demonstration." One Italian newspaper said that he told investigators: "We were supposed to blow ourselves up."
The father of two from south London, is the first person held under regulations which took effect on Thursday after Italy signed the UK's Extradition Act of 2003. He is believed to be fighting enforced return to Britain.
Twelve men are being questioned in London over their alleged involvement in failed attacks. They include the three suspected of failing to explode bombs at Shepherd's Bush, the Oval and Warren Street Tube stations and a bus in Hackney. Another man is being questioned over an abandoned bomb found in west London last Saturday.
Osman, whose real name is believed to be Hamdi Isaac, and three London suspects were arrested on Friday and a fifth suspect was held on Wednesday in Birmingham.
Osman apparently travelled to Rome five days after the July 21 attacks, when police were on full alert. He was arrested, without resistance, at his brother's home after going to a mosque to pray.
Scotland Yard traced him to Italy because he occasionally used a mobile phone. He is believed to have taken the Eurostar from Waterloo to Paris, then a train through Italy visiting Bologna, Milan and Rome.
Security sources in Italy said he made four calls on Friday: three local calls apparently to relatives and, the most interesting one, to a mobile phone in Saudi Arabia. Scotland Yard is trying to discover who took that call.
Saudi Arabia, which has good relations with the West, has been embarrassed by its links to international terrorism. Not only is it bin Laden's home country but 15 of the September 11 terrorists were from the kingdom.
"Ah, yes. Our 'ally' and 'friend' the Saudi family.
They hold our hand as the twist the knife."
Police Investigate Saudi Link To London Attacks
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 7-31-2005 | Andrew Alderson/David Harrison/Bruce Johnston
Posted on 07/30/2005 5:31:52 PM PDT by blam
Police investigate Saudi link to London attacks
By Andrew Alderson, David Harrison and Bruce Johnston in Rome
(Filed: 31/07/2005)
London under attack
Scotland Yard is investigating evidence that the two waves of terrorist attacks on London this month may have been masterminded from Saudi Arabia.
The Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist squad has learnt that Hussain Osman, 27, one of the suspects for the second failed attacks, called a number in Saudi Arabia hours before his arrest in Rome on Friday. He was believed to be making only the most vital calls because he feared his mobile phone was being tracked by investigators.
An Italian police officer holds up photographs of Hussain Osman
In an unconfirmed development, the Saudi Arabian authorities are understood to be investigating the possibility that the attacks were planned by extremists there.
Senior officials at Scotland Yard believe there are no links in Britain between the two cells responsible for the July 7 bombings which killed 56 people and the failed suicide attacks two weeks later. But one senior source said that the anti-terrorist squad is investigating links between the two cells and "foreign camps" of terrorists.
They are also inquiring into claims that, like the July 7 bombers, some of the July 21 attackers travelled extensively abroad shortly before the attacks. Police believe that although the July 21 terrorists expected to die, they made plans in case the bombs failed or their mission was aborted.
One security official said: "Most of the suspects did not use mobile phones registered to them and neither did they use land lines. Therefore they must have had some sort of contingency plan and probably had help from sympathisers. This tells us that they must have had some training, so the question now is by whom and where did they receive that training."
Scotland Yard began proceedings in Rome yesterday to extradite Osman, who is suspected of being the failed Shepherd's Bush suicide bomber of July 21. Italian newspapers, quoting police and security sources, claimed that he at first said that he only carried a backpack on to the Tube but admitted on Friday night that he had been involved in the attacks. But Osman allegedly insisted he had no links to al-Qaeda, the terrorist network led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.
Scotland Yard is sceptical of many of the alleged claims - sometimes confused and contradictory - made by Osman, a British citizen born in Ethiopia. He allegedly said that he had intended to spread fear not to kill members of the public. "We wanted to make an attack but only as a demonstration." One Italian newspaper said that he told investigators: "We were supposed to blow ourselves up."
The father of two from south London, is the first person held under regulations which took effect on Thursday after Italy signed the UK's Extradition Act of 2003. He is believed to be fighting enforced return to Britain.
Twelve men are being questioned in London over their alleged involvement in failed attacks. They include the three suspected of failing to explode bombs at Shepherd's Bush, the Oval and Warren Street Tube stations and a bus in Hackney. Another man is being questioned over an abandoned bomb found in west London last Saturday.
Osman, whose real name is believed to be Hamdi Isaac, and three London suspects were arrested on Friday and a fifth suspect was held on Wednesday in Birmingham.
Osman apparently travelled to Rome five days after the July 21 attacks, when police were on full alert. He was arrested, without resistance, at his brother's home after going to a mosque to pray.
Scotland Yard traced him to Italy because he occasionally used a mobile phone. He is believed to have taken the Eurostar from Waterloo to Paris, then a train through Italy visiting Bologna, Milan and Rome.
Security sources in Italy said he made four calls on Friday: three local calls apparently to relatives and, the most interesting one, to a mobile phone in Saudi Arabia. Scotland Yard is trying to discover who took that call.
Saudi Arabia, which has good relations with the West, has been embarrassed by its links to international terrorism. Not only is it bin Laden's home country but 15 of the September 11 terrorists were from the kingdom.
Part of my Scot ancestory came from the plundering, pillaging and raping Scandos.
Of course if they hadn't done those acts, I wouldn't be here posting.
I've got plenty of European ancestry, too...it is unfortunate that, historically, the pillaging of towns and raping of women was their "right" as the "victorious." Quite barbaric.
Listed below are the Names of the Jihadist Johnny Mohammeds arrested:
Italian police arrest a brother of Osman Hussain, named as Fati Isaac, in Brescia, in northern Italy on Sunday, news agency ANSA said. Another brother, Remzi Isaac, was held on Friday
Osman Hussain appeared before an extradition hearing in Rome on Saturday. His court-appointed lawyer Antonietta Sonnessa suggested he would fight being returned to the UK
Yasin Hassan Omar, Muktar Said Ibrahim and Ramzi Mohammed, the other men suspected of carrying out the attempted attacks on 21 July, are being questioned in London.
I just got an email from a friend, who is in London. She said that the evening television said that at least 12 besides the ones arrested and named are being held for questioning in connection with the bombing.
Apparently England's security laws allow suspects in acts like the bombings to be held up to 14 days without being arrested or charged. That way the police can wrap up the investigations on those being held.
Yes, Fox was saying there's a total of 19 arrested and they were also saying they can be held up to 14 days without being charged....very cool! (Perhaps your friend can clarify, but is the 14 days allowed for just those who are arrested on terrorist-related investigations?)
Fox, again had a video segment, that so far , 35 people have at some time been detained, some of those have been released however.
Those Brits sure know how to do their stuff; they are a great partner in the WOT; I wish they had better intelligence, as I also wish we did....which could have prevented the London bombings, which took them by surprise...I heard that because there'd been little to no chatter leading up to the 7/7 bombing, the Brits had just reduced the alarm level....hopefully, whatever new information they've gleaned will help step up intelligence; glad to see Italy's being so agressive, too.
Only in terrorist investigations is it 14 days. Part of Blair's package of terrorism legislation extends it to 30.
The House of Saud has never been our friend or allly, except when the feel it suits their needs.
Thanks Bernie.
"The link goes back much, much farther. Back to the Carter years."
How much responsibility of the terrorism which started in Carter's years up to today can be laid at Carter's feet?
Now, now, let's not point fingers with a lack of PC. /sarcasm
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